Drop Shot Fishing on Lake Hopatcong
Lake Hopatcong · New Jersey · Northeast
Lake Hopatcong sits in Morris and Sussex counties in northern New Jersey, a glacially formed natural lake stretching roughly 2,500 acres with a maximum depth around 60 feet and a shoreline heavily developed with docks, residential piers, and irregular coves. The lake's structure profile mixes shallow weedy flats, submerged points, and deep basin holes — a combination that supports both largemouth in the shallower cover and smallmouth on the deeper rock and gravel transitions. Water clarity trends toward stained to lightly turbid through summer but can run fairly clear in early spring and late fall.
The drop shot suspends a soft plastic bait above the bottom on a fixed line, keeping it in the strike zone longer than any other rig. Originally a West Coast technique, it now dominates clear-water and finesse situations nationwide. Works vertically over structure or on a long cast.
Drop Shot Setup for Lake Hopatcong
| Rod | 7' medium-light to medium spinning rod, fast action |
| Reel | 2500–3000 size spinning reel, 6.2:1 or higher |
| Line | 6–8 lb fluorocarbon main line or 10 lb braid + 8 lb fluoro leader |
| Weight | 1/8–3/8 oz tungsten drop shot weight (heavier in current or deep water) |
| Hook | #1 or #2 Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap, 6–18 inches above weight |
Seasonal Tactics on Lake Hopatcong
Lake: Pre-spawn largemouth stage on dock edges and weedy coves in 6–10 ft as water climbs through the low 50s into the 60s; smallmouth lock onto rock points and gravel transitions along the main basin in the same window, often reachable on finesse rigs and shaky heads.
Drop Shot: Target staging fish on points and drop-offs in 8–20 feet. Nose-hook a 6" Roboworm or Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm.
Lake: Largemouth push deep into milfoil and coontail mats or suspend beneath floating docks during peak heat; smallmouth stack on mid-lake humps and channel ledges in 25–40 ft where cooler, oxygenated water holds through the thermocline. Topwater action fires in low-light windows near surface grass.
Drop Shot: Go deep — 20–40 feet on main lake structure. Shake in place with minimal movement. Shad colors dominate.
Lake: Both species feed aggressively as water temps fall back through the 60s — largemouth follow dying vegetation edges while smallmouth chase shad and perch on main lake points and hard-bottom transitions in 10–25 ft.
Drop Shot: Follow baitfish to secondary points and pockets. Faster retrieve works as fish get more aggressive.
Lake: Ice cover can form on shallower coves, and while ice fishing is practiced, open-water bass anglers target the deepest basin areas in 40–60 ft with slow-rolled jigging spoons and drop shots over suspended fish.
Drop Shot: Slowest presentation of the year. Dead-stick a 4" finesse worm at the bottom. Let it sit 10–15 seconds between shakes.
Best Conditions
Clear to stained water, pressured fish, cold fronts, post-spawn suspended bass, deep structure in summer
Use a Palomar knot and leave the tag end pointing up to keep the hook riding correctly. Most anglers tie it wrong.
More Techniques for Lake Hopatcong
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